“B-Bathe?! Nope nope nope! Never! No matter what, that’s impossible!” Aki shook her head with a bright red face. Seeing her reaction, Latifa peered closely at her expression.
“Hmm. Do you have a brother too, Aki?”
“Huh? Yeah, I do. His name’s Takahisa.”
“Huh, really...” Latifa hummed and stared off into the distance.
“Speaking of Lady Aishia, there’s one thing I’m curious about...” Sara began hesitantly.
“What’s wrong?” Aki asked.
“U-Umm, don’t you think Aishia sticks too closely to Rio?” Sara said, watching the expressions around her.
Orphia’s elf ears twitched in interest. “Ah, that thought crossed my mind too.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Though I’m used to it by now...” Aki agreed with a wry smile.
“Has she been like that ever since you were in the Strahl region?” Alma asked, also intrigued.
They all mutually agreed on this fact because Aishia was always beside Rio. For example, they would stand next to each other as though snuggling up, and their hands and bodies would constantly make contact. It wasn’t as though Rio was pampering her, but it came across as something more natural — and it ended up catching the eyes of everyone around them.
“Hmm. But doesn’t Latifa also cling to Haruto a lot?” Miharu said with a tilt of her head, but Sara immediately shook her head.
“No, it’s something different from a sibling relationship...”
“Right. It’s hard to put it into words, but there’s something peculiar in the air between them,” Alma said, nodding.
“Rio’s a gentleman, so he usually maintains an appropriate amount of distance from her,” Orphia added.
“Yes, that’s it!” Sara jumped with fierce agreement. “Even though he’s like that, Lady Aishia gets special treatment, almost like it’s only natural for her to be attached to him so much.”
The girls continued to chat and gossip excitedly until they were done soaking their bodies.
◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning, after Rio finished eating breakfast, he shut himself in his room to be alone, stating that he had work to finish. Furthermore, Sara, Orphia, and Alma had business to take care of in the town hall, so they went out, while Latifa, Aki, and Masato had made promises to meet with Vera and Arslan outside to play together.
As a result, Miharu and Aishia were the only ones left in the living room.
“So the three of us are watching the house. It feels kind of refreshing... And it’s been a while since I’ve been alone with Ai-chan.” Miharu sat on the sofa and faced Aishia, grinning happily as she spoke.
“Should we call Haruto here to join us?”
“Fufu, we can’t. I’m sure that’d be fun, but Haruto has things to do in his room.”
“Okay... Then it’s just the two of us. What’ll we talk about?” Aishia nodded, then cocked her head to the side.
“Hmm. Oh, I know. Can I ask you a question? Since it’s just the two of us, I wanted to ask you something about Haruto...” Miharu said, remembering something she wanted to bring up.
“What is it?”
“Haruto agreed to officially teach Masato swordcraft, right? That was why I wanted to thank him for that, as well as for taking care of us on a daily basis. So I was wondering if there was anything I could do for him.”
A faint contemplative look fell over Aishia’s face before she shook her head slowly. “...I don’t think Haruto wants you to thank him for that, though.”
“Yeah... I know that, but I want to do something. It may simply be for my own satisfaction, but if Haruto could be happy...” Miharu placed a hand against her chest as she voiced her inner thoughts.
“I think Haruto would be really happy if you told him those feelings,” Aishia suggested, catching Miharu off guard and making her flustered.
“Huh? T-That’s too embarrassing, saying it so directly... I’d rather do it in a way that involved some kind of gift or action, so that’s why I’m discussing it with you, Ai-chan.”
“...If it’s something from you, then Haruto will be happy no matter what.”
“I don’t think that’s true. Haruto can do anything by himself, so I can’t think of what I should do for him. All I ever do is hold him back...” Miharu said, her face falling with sadness.
“You’re wrong.” Aishia shook her head bluntly.
“Eh?”
“It’s true that Haruto can do many things by himself, but being by yourself is lonely. Having support is essential. Haruto would definitely be happy to have your support. That’s why, Miharu, you should support Haruto,” Aishia said eloquently in response to Miharu’s expression of wonder.
Miharu blinked in surprise for a few moments, before a gentle smile spread across her face. “...Yeah. Okay,” she nodded quietly.
“Good.” Aishia also gave a soft smile.
“Fufu, I’m glad I talked to you after all, Ai-chan. You really know Haruto well.”
“You should know him well, too, Miharu.”
“Huh? I don’t think so...” Miharu tilted her head curiously at Aishia’s words. “Do you know what would make Haruto happy?”
“...Hearing Miharu’s feelings.”
“Ugh, I told you that was too embarrassing. If it was just thanking him for everything he does every day, and that I wanted to repay him, then I guess...”
“...Then, will you hug Haruto?” Aishia suggested, cocking her head.
“T-That’s even more embarrassing! No way!” Miharu yelled in a fluster.
“Then you should make him a delicious meal for lunch of all his favorite foods.”
“Lunch... Lunch, huh? I’m always making that... But what are Haruto’s favorites?” Miharu asked.
“...Omelet rice. Back when Haruto was still on Earth, he loved that food as a child,” Aishia answered simply.
Miharu had a somewhat distant look in her eyes for a moment before coming to an enthusiastic decision. “Omelet rice, I see... Okay, I’ll try making it!”
“I want to help, too. Teach me how to make it the Miharu way,” Aishia requested. Since she had helped out with the cooking quite often when they had lived in the rock house together, Aishia was now able to make a few things, too, though not as well as the other two girls. She was still in training, one could say.
“Yup, of course. Let’s make a few other things together, too!” Miharu agreed cheerfully.
Thus, Miharu and Aishia started cooking together. They decided on making a stew, a salad, and cake for dessert, before quickly making their way to the kitchen.
The two girls put on their matching aprons and chose to bake the cake first. After the preliminary preparations were done, they poured the ingredients for a sponge cake batter into a wooden bowl. Aishia followed Miharu’s instructions and mixed the ingredients thoroughly. Once the flour was mixed well and the batter had a springy texture to it, Miharu added the butter she had warmed beforehand into the bowl with milk, then directed Aishia to stir it together. “Yup, I think that’s enough. We’ll add some warm butter and milk into it... Okay, now try mixing it lightly. Your aim is to give the batter a sheen.”
“Okay.” Aishia obediently mixed the contents of the bowl as ordered.
“...Yup, that looks like enough. Next, we’ll pour it into this mold. Make sure no air gets into the batter. Don’t do it too low, and go slowly...” Miharu gently guided Aishia’s hands that were holding onto the bowl.
“Like this?” Once Aishia poured the batter into the mold, Miharu placed the now-filled mold into the oven with practiced hands.
“Yes, just like that. Once we bake it for 40 minutes, the sponge will be complete. ...And there we go. In the meantime, let’s make the stew.”
Thus, the two of them cooked together while chatting happily with each other. After a fair amount of time had passed, Miharu took a chance to suddenly ask Aishia a question.
“...Hey, Ai-chan.”
“What?”
> “You’ve forgotten everything from before you first woke up, but you still remembered your contract partner. You knew about Haruto, right?”
“Yeah.” Aishia gave a short nod.
“Umm, then... What kind of person is the Haruto that you knew, Ai-chan? Exactly the same person as the one you know now?” Miharu asked hesitantly, gauging Aishia for her reaction.
After a beat, Aishia responded quietly. “...Haruto is Haruto. Cowardly, with no confidence, trapped by his own past, and at a loss for what to do. Despite that, he’s a strong person that tries to do the right thing and move forward.”
When Miharu heard the abstract description of Rio’s persona, she smiled rather sadly. “You know so much about Haruto that I don’t know...”
“Maybe. But the Haruto that Miharu knows well exists, too.”
“R-Really?” Miharu tilted her head with uncertainty.
“Yeah. You just haven’t realized it,” Aishia declared confidently.
Miharu’s eyes widened in surprise before she smiled with amusement. “Fufu, you speak with such confidence, Ai-chan.”
“...That’s because I want Miharu to accept Haruto,” Aishia said, fixing her gaze on Miharu.
“I see... Okay.” Miharu ducked her head shyly before giving a small nod, then swiftly went back to cooking to hide her embarrassment.
“Are we done talking, then?” Aishia asked.
“Y-Yeah. Sorry for asking something so weird.” Miharu nodded with a smile.
After that, their time cooking together went well. Then, just as they had nearly finished the dishes, Rio appeared in the living room, immediately noticing the delicious scent wafting from the kitchen.
“Sorry, Miharu. Is this the lunch you prepared for me? Oh, and Aishia too,” he said as he walked into the kitchen. When he spotted Miharu and Aishia sporting the same aprons together, his eyes widened faintly.
“Yes, we were just thinking about coming to call you, Haruto,” Miharu replied with a smile.
“It’s filled with appreciation and affection for Haruto,” Aishia said monotonously. It was hard to tell whether Aishia was joking or saying that because she seriously believed it.
“Ahaha, we tried our best.” Miharu grinned shyly without denying Aishia’s words.
“...Umm, thank you very much. Both of you. Is that the smell of stew, by the way?” Rio thanked them with a little embarrassment, before changing the subject to the food prepared.
“Ah, yes. We’re just about to start the omelet rice.”
Rio’s expression brightened happily at the mention of omurice. “That sounds good. I was just in the mood for that.”
“Miharu’s special omelet rice... It’s delicious,” Aishia said, giving her stamp of approval.
“I-I don’t think it warrants that much praise...” Miharu muttered somewhat uncertainly.
“No, I really want to try Miharu’s omelet rice, too,” Rio requested somewhat restlessly.
“Fufu, thank you. Please have a seat and wait there, Haruto.”
He really does seem to love omelet rice, just like Aishia said, Miharu thought with a giggle as she set about cooking.
In a matter of minutes, the cooking was completed and the freshly made omelet rice was brought out to the table where Rio was waiting, along with the other dishes Miharu and Aishia had made.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you very much. Umm... What about you two?” Rio looked up curiously at how they were still standing around after setting the table.
“Ah, umm. I was hoping to hear your opinion first,” Miharu said shyly.
“I see... Then I’ll dig in while it’s still hot. If you don’t mind me...” Sensing the situation at hand, Rio took a bite of the omelet rice covered in stew rather shyly. As he chewed, the flavor of the soft-boiled egg mixed with the stew rushed into his mouth. The rice, mixed with the stew, tasted harmonious together.
“It’s delicious! This is amazing!” Rio said, eyes widening like saucers.
Miharu sighed with relief. “Really?! I’m glad. Omelet rice is actually the first dish my mother taught me how to cook. After making it so many times, it’s secretly become my specialty dish,” she said happily.
“I see, so that’s how it is. But why is it a secret?”
“Ahaha, I just haven’t had any opportunity to make it for anyone outside of my family.”
“Is that so?” Satisfied, Rio smiled with amusement.
“Umm, Haruto... Thank you for everything you’ve done,” Miharu said as she peered at his face.
Rio tilted his head curiously before returning the sentiment. “...Sure? Same here.”
Aishia watched over the two of them in silence.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, Latifa, Aki, and Masato had left the house to meet up with Vera and Arslan. They were currently sitting in a corner of the village square having a picnic as they chatted together.
Laid out before them were the lunch boxes that Miharu and Orphia had made, as well as the food that Vera’s mother had prepared.
“Hey Masato, will Rio be teaching you swordcraft today?” Arslan asked as he stuffed his cheeks with sandwiches.
Masato nodded. “Yeah. He said he’d teach me here in the square in the afternoon.”
“Hmm. If you guys finish early, I’ll ask him to spar with me, too,” Arslan said with a grin.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve faced Onii-chan in a match. I think I’ll ask him too,” Latifa said, giggling happily.
“Today, I’ll be asking Sara to face me for the first time in a few days.” Vera seemed to have her mind set on sparring with her sister.
Aki watched Latifa and Vera closely. Even though the two of them look just like normal girls my age, they’re already taking lessons to become warriors. Aren’t they scared? she wondered to herself.
“Hm? What’s wrong, Aki?” Vera asked, noticing her expression.
“Ah, umm... I was just thinking about how everyone’s training like warriors already, even though you’re my age. You all went through the same initiation as Masato and still wanted to fight, right?” Aki voiced the thoughts that had been floating around in her head.
Latifa hummed in thought before answering Aki’s question. “...Hmm. I don’t think it’s right to say we wanted to fight. And if you asked me whether fighting was scary or not, then I’d say it’s scary to fight.”
“...Even though it’s scary, you fight?” Aki asked timidly.
“Yup. Because it’s more scary not having the power to fight back when you need to. Masato said it as well, but I want power to protect my loved ones. It hurts just to stand by and watch,” Latifa said resolutely, smiling at the end of her explanation. Aki watched Latifa’s expression carefully.
“That’s right. I think the same way as Latifa,” Vera offered.
“Me too. Well, there are warriors in the village obsessed with battles. Like Uzuma, who enjoys fighting against strong opponents,” Arslan chimed in.
“The power to protect...” Aki mumbled, looking at Masato.
“W-What?” Masato asked with a high-pitched voice.
“No, it’s nothing...” Aki shook her head softly.
“Fufu, so Masato wants to protect Aki.” Vera guessed at Masato’s intentions with a grin.
“Wha... N-... Y-You’re wrong!” Masato disagreed with a flushed face.
“You say that, but your blush is undeniable proof!” Vera said confidently, to which Masato desperately refuted.
“I’m telling you, you’re wrong! You’re totally wrong!”
“Well, Masato’s feelings aside, there are times where you won’t be able to have your way without power. When it comes down to it, the only one who can protect you is you,” Arslan said, bringing their conversation to an end with a huff of laughter.
“You’re just retelling what you heard from the warriors, Arslan.” Vera stared at Arslan disapprovingly.
“Guh. I-It’s no big deal, is it? I have my own thoughts about
those words,” Arslan said, turning away in embarrassment.
Vera cocked her head, not quite satisfied yet. “I get what you’re saying, but hearing it from an amateur like you only has half as much impact.”
“Ahaha. Then, Aki, let’s say someone precious to you tried to protect you. How would you feel if they put themselves in a dangerous position before you?” Latifa asked with a faint smile.
“Umm, no, I don’t want that.” Aki was able to imagine it immediately; the first thing that had come to her mind was the sight of Miharu jumping in between her and the mysterious humanoid monsters that tried to attack them in the Strahl region. The next thing that came to mind were her brothers, Takahisa and Masato.
“Right? That’s why we want the power to protect others. At the very least, I don’t want to be a hindrance to Onii-chan,” Latifa said, smiling a little sadly.
“I also want the strength to protect and support my sister. That’s why I fight even if I’m scared,” Vera nodded next.
“...I feel like the fog has cleared a little... I understand how everyone feels now. If it was for Miharu and my brother, I’d fight even if I was scared, too,” she said with a gentle smile. Now she could understand why Masato had wanted to learn swordcraft yesterday; she even felt the same way.
“Oi, Aki. You mentioned Miharu and Takahisa, but what about me?” Masato asked, pointing at himself in a showy manner.
“YOU’RE going to protect ME, aren’t you?” Aki giggled happily.
“Yeah, yeah. Fine, whatever,” Masato replied listlessly, hiding his embarrassment.
“Oh, Masato’s feeling shy,” Arslan commented in amusement, with Vera joining in.
“Aki’s also getting embarrassed at how honestly Masato admitted it.”
The two siblings both blushed red and fell silent. Seeing their sibling exchange made Latifa giggle, but she felt a small feeling of doubt that was caught on something.
Aki must have meant that Takahisa person she was separated from when she said “my brother.” I wonder... Has she forgotten about Onii-chan?
◇ ◇ ◇
Miharu and company continued to enjoy their peaceful days in the village. Just like that, over a month and a half had passed in the blink of an eye.
The Silver Bride Page 8
